Greene County housing projects received $900,000 in state grants
WAYNESBURG – Four housing projects in Greene County will benefit from almost $900,000 in grants awarded Thursday by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
The projects will receive money through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act program, administered by PHFA and funded by impact fees on Marcellus shale natural gas producers.
The projects will go a long way toward improving the housing stock and housing availability throughout the area, state Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, said in announcing the grant awards.
“The Marcellus Shale impact fees continue to provide dividends and tangible benefits to the region,” she said.
The largest grant, $450,000, will be used by Accessible Dreams, a nonprofit developer of accessible housing, to develop a second, four-unit apartment building in Jefferson Borough for people with disabilities.
The Washington-based organization under the umbrella of Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living broke ground in May on the first Independence Place development at 1392 Jefferson Road. The first four-unit building will contain two wheelchair-accessible apartments on the ground floor and two additional apartments on the second floor. Independence Place, which also was funded by a PHARE grant, was developed in partnership with Greene County Redevelopment Authority.
The property was initially purchased by the authority, which demolished two houses on the site and then sold the land to Accessible Dreams for $1.
The PHARE grant for the second project, Independence Place II, will help Accessible Dreams purchase property adjacent to first building and construct a building containing four, two-bedroom apartments, two of which will be accessible for persons with mobility impairments.
Mark Berton, project development director for Accessible Dreams, said there is no timeline to break ground on the second project as they continue to work to line up funding.
“We’re trying to move forward on the project,” Berton said. “Other than aesthetics, it will be the same as the first unit.”
Elsewhere, a grant of $165,000 was awarded to the redevelopment authority and Center Township for a project to create senior housing in Rogersville.
Dave Calvario, authority director, said plans are now in the early stages, but would involve developing townhouses at the site of the former Rogersville Elementary School for seniors wishing to downsize, yet remain in the community.
A $150,000 grant was awarded to Greene County Habitat for Humanity to purchase and demolish a dilapidated house on Nazer Street in Waynesburg and to develop two, three bedroom single-family homes in the same community.
The final $125,000 grant will go to the Greene County Veterans Housing Assistance Program to provide rental and utility assistance to veterans who do not qualify for other assistance. The program is administered by Greene County Human Services.
Money for the local projects was among the $8.1 million in funding awarded Thursday by PFHA addressing housing concerns involving 44 housing projects in 28 counties.